Latch

ABSTRACT

The latch mechanism is adapted for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted interiorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position. A key-operated latch mechanism is adapted for reception and latching of that portion of a latch pin extending beyond the hood pin to the end that the device is effective to prevent unauthorized removal of the latch pin.

nite States Patet 1,512,589 10/1924 Freysinger Inventor George Wartian East Detroit, Mich. Appl. No. 5,721 Filed Jan. 26, 1970 Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Assignee Wartian Lock Company St. Clair Shores, Mich.

LATCH 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 70/240, 70/39, 292/302, 292/DIG. 14 Int. Cl ..E05b 65/19, E05b 67/24 Field of Search 70/181, 240, 229, 14, 39; 292/DlG. 14,302

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,638,264 8/1927 Junkunc ..I 70/39 1,650,578 11/1927 Wyman 70/230ux 1,965,941 7/1934 Jacobi 292 21sux Primary ExaminerAlbert G. Craig, Jr. Attorney- Whittemore, Hu1bert& Belknap ABSTRACT: The latch mechanism is adapted for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted interiorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position. A key-operated latch mechanism is adapted for reception and latching of that portion of a latch pin extending beyond the hood pin to the end that the device is effective to prevent unauthorized removal of the latch pin.

PATENTEDJANI 1 m2 31633390 INVENTOR. GEORGE WARTIAN ATTORNEYS LATCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, hood pins have become very popular in connection with sport and hotrod-type cars. The hood pins are mounted in the engine compartment on bracket structure available therein. The pins extend through openings in the hood when the hood is closed. A cotter-type latch pin engages an opening in the exterior portion of the hood pin to maintain the hood in the closed position. Sport cars frequently have valuable accessory equipment mounted within the engine compartment, and the car owners have in some cases been subjected to theft of the accessory components because the engine compartment is not locked closed.

The present invention provides a key-operated latch mechanism for engagement with the cotter pins to prevent removal of the cotter pins without first disengaging the latch mechanism by use of the proper key. The mechanism is of simple and inexpensive construction and is adaptable for use in connection with existing hood pins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A latch mechanism is provided for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted interiorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position. The hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position. The latch mechanism comprises a body having an opening therein for reception of the portion of the latch pin which extends beyond the hood pin. A latching element is provided in the body and is operated by a key to engage the projecting section of the latch pin to prevent withdrawal thereof from the latch body, thus preventing withdrawal of the latch pin from the hood pin.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. I is a view in perspective of an automobile illustrating one embodiment of the latch of the present invention mounted on a hood pin thereof;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the latch structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the latch illustrating the mounting of the hood pin; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of the latch.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-4, it will be noted that a pair of latch structures are mounted in spaced apart relationship on the forward portion of the hood 12 of an automobile. The latch structures each include a hood pin 18 which is fixedly secured to a support member 20 forming part of the framing structure normally provided in the automobile engine compartment. The lower portion 22 of the hood pin 18 is externally threaded and extends through an opening 24 in the support member 20. A nut 26 is received on the threaded portion 22 and is positioned above the support member 20. A second nut 28 is threaded onto the portion 22 below the support member. The two nuts may be adjusted to permit raising or lowering of the hood pin 18 to the proper height. When the proper adjustment has been made, the nuts 26, 28 are tightened to thereby securely lock the hood pin 18 in place.

An opening 30 is provided in the hood through which the hood pin 18 extends. As will be noted, the opening 30 is somewhat greater in diameter than the diameter of the hood pin to allow clearance when the hood is raised and lowered, it being appreciated that the hood is hingedly connected adjacent the windshield of the automobile. A ring 16 is secured to the hood 12, as by screws, over the opening 30. The ring 16 has an opening 32 which is placed in alignment with the opening 30. The ring 16 is preferably chrome plated or otherwise finished on the outer surface thereof for decorative purposes.

A latch pin 38 having a loop portion 36 is engageable with the hood pin 18 to prevent opening of the hood, and the loop 36 may be wedged against the surface 34 of plate 16 to prevent rattling. A retaining strap 39 extends from each latch pin and is secured forwardly of the hood 12.

The latch pin 38 includes a pair of legs 40, 42 which extend from the loop portion 36 in substantially the same plane. The leg 40 is a straight leg and extends through an opening 44 in the upper portion of the pin 18 to prevent opening of the hood 12. The other leg 42 has a configuration including a curved portion 46 which extends around the pin 18.

The ends of the legs 40, 42 extend into a slotlike opening 48 in the body of latch mechanism 50. The latch mechanism 50 includes a main body portion 52 from which extends, at

. generally right angles, a hollow cylindrical portion 54. A

groove 56 is provided in the end of the body portion 52 and is configured to mate with and receive the upper portion of the pin 18. The groove 56 encompasses approximately one-half of the diameter of the pin 18. An opening 58 of reduced diameter extends from the slotlike opening 48 and receives the free end of the leg 40.

A key-operated barrel-type lock cylinder 60 is mounted within the cylindrical body portion 54. The lock cylinder 60 terminates at a point adjacent to the slotlike opening 48 and carries on its lower end a projection 62 which extends into the opening 48. The projection 62 is movable from the dotted-line position illustrated in FIG. 3 to the full-line position illustrated therein by means of a key 64. When the projection 62 is pivoted to the dotted-line position by means of lock cylinder 60, the leg 42 may be inserted completely into the opening 48. A portion 66 of the leg 42 extends from the curved portion 46 and terminates in an outwardly bent end 70 which abuts against the end wall 72 of opening 48.

When the hood 12 is lowered the hood pins 18 will project through the openings 30 in the hood. The latch pins 38 are then mounted by inserting the leg 40 of the latch pin through the opening 44 in the hood pin 18 as the end 70 of leg 42 is sprung slightly to pass around pin 18. The latch mechanism 50 is then applied onto the forward end of the legs 40, 42 with the lock cylinder in a position to permit insertion of the leg 42. The lock cylinder is then turned by means of the key 64 whereupon the projection 62 occupies an interferring position as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the portion 70 of the leg 42 engages behind the lock projection 62 thus preventing withdrawal of the pin 38. The leg 42 cannot be manipulated to disengage the projection 62 as it is confined within the opening 48 in the latch body. It will be appreciated that the pin 38 is fabricated of relatively heavy gauge spring steel wire and cannot be withdrawn without use of the key 64to pivot the projection 62 out of its interfering position. In this manner the hood 12 is securely locked.

FIG. 5 illustrates a modified form of the latching mechanism. The retaining pin 38 and pin 18 are substantially the same as that previously described. However, in FIG. 5 the latch mechanism 74 is integral with the ring 76 which in turn is secured to the top of the hood. In this manner the latch mechanism is fixedly secured to the automobile. The lock cylinder 78 is received in a hollow cylindrical portion 80 extending laterally from the latch body 82 rather than the top of the main latch body. The projection 84 provided on the inner end of the lock cylinder 78 is rotated by the key into engagement with the portion 70 of leg 42 to prevent removal of pin 38. The slotlike opening 86 has a wall 88 which is engaged by the portion 70 of leg 42 to prevent deflection of the portion 70 out of engagement with projection 84.

What I claim as may invention is:

1. A latch device for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted exteriorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position, comprising a latch body having an opening therein for reception of a portion of the latch pin extending beyond the hood pin, said portion of the latch pin having a locking formation thereon, a latching element in said body movable to one position to engage said locking formation of the latch pin to prevent withdrawal thereof from said body and movable to another position to disengage said locking formation to permit withdrawal or insertion thereof into said body, and a lock in said body, said lock operatively connected to the latching element and operative upon actuation to move the latching element to one or the other of said positions, said body having a recess therein from which the opening therein extends, said recess encompassing a portion of the hood pin to thereby prevent twisting of said body with respect to the hood pin when the latch pin is inserted therein.

2. A latch device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said latch pin has two legs, one of said legs being substantially straight and extending through the opening in the hood pin and thence into the opening in the body, the other of said legs extending around the hood pin and thence into the opening in the body, said locking formation being provided on the other of said legs.

3. A latch device as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in that said legs lie in substantially the same plane, the opening in said body in a direction perpendicular to said plane having a dimension slightly greater than the thickness of said legs to thereby prevent twisting of the latch pin after insertion of a portion of the legs thereof into the opening in said body.

4. A latch device as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that the opening in said body includes a portion of reduced diameter to receive the forward end of the straight leg of the latch pin to thereby restrict pin movement.

5. A latch device as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in that the end of said other leg is bent at an angle to define said locking formation.

6. A latch device as defined in claim 5, and further characterized in that said other leg of the latch pin is curved intermediate the ends thereof to fit around the hood pin.

7. A latch device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said body is adapted to be fixedly secured to an automobile hood.

8. A latch device for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted interiorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position, comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the hood and having an opening therein through which the hood pin extends, a latch body on said mounting plate having an opening therein for reception of a portion of the latch pin extending beyond the hood pin, said portion of the latch pin having a locking formation thereon, a latching element in said body movable to one position to engage said locking formation to prevent withdrawal thereof from said body and movable to another position to disengage said locking formation to permit withdrawal or insertion thereof into said body, and a lock in said body, said lock being operatively connected to the latching element and operative upon actuation to move the latching element to one or the other of said positions. 

1. A latch device for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted exteriorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position, comprising a latch body having an opening therein for reception of a portion of the latch pin extending beyond the hood pin, said portion of the latch pin having a locking formation thereon, a latching element in said body movable to one position to engage said locking formation of the latch pin to prevent withdrawal thereof from said body and movable to another position to disengage said locking formation to permit withdrawal or insertion thereof into said body, and a lock in said body, said lock operatively connected to the latching element and operative upon actuation to move the latching element to one or the other of said positions, said body having a recess therein from which the opening therein extends, said recess encompassing a portion of the hood pin to thereby prevent twisting of said body with respect to the hood pin when the latch pin is inserted therein.
 2. A latch device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said latch pin has two legs, one of said legs being substantially straight and extending through the opening in the hood pin and thence into the opening in the body, the other of said legs extending around the hood pin and thence into the opening in the body, said locking formation being provided on the other of said legs.
 3. A latch device as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in that said legs lie in substantially the same plane, the opening in said body in a direction perpendicular to said plane having a dimension slightly greater than the thickness of said legs to thereby prevent twisting of the latch pin after insertion of a portion of the legs thereof into the opening in said body.
 4. A latch device as defined in claim 3, and further characterized in that the opening in said body includes a portion of reduced diameter to receive the forward end of the straight leg of the latch pin to thereby restrict pin movement.
 5. A latch device as defined in claim 2, and further characterized in that the end of said other leg is bent at an angle to define said locking formation.
 6. A latch device as defined in claim 5, and further characterized in that said other leg of the latch pin is curved intermediate the ends thereof to fit around the hood pin.
 7. A latch device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized in that said body is adapted to be fixedly secured to an automobile hood.
 8. A latch device for use in connection with an automobile hood pin of the type mounted interiorly of the engine compartment and extending through an opening in the hood when the hood is in the closed position and wherein the hood pin has an opening therein exteriorly of the hood for reception of a latch pin to maintain the hood in the closed position, comprising a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the hood and having an opening therein through which the hood pin extends, a latch boDy on said mounting plate having an opening therein for reception of a portion of the latch pin extending beyond the hood pin, said portion of the latch pin having a locking formation thereon, a latching element in said body movable to one position to engage said locking formation to prevent withdrawal thereof from said body and movable to another position to disengage said locking formation to permit withdrawal or insertion thereof into said body, and a lock in said body, said lock being operatively connected to the latching element and operative upon actuation to move the latching element to one or the other of said positions. 